Advancing Excellence Campaign Extended

VHCA (6/12/2008)

The Advancing Excellence campaign will continue for at least two additional years with the same eight goals used since its inception two years ago.  VHCA is assisting the campaign by “spreading the word” to all nursing facilities and corporate staff of this extension of the Advancing Excellence campaign. The campaign’s eight goals are:

1. Reducing high risk pressure ulcers; 
2. Reducing the use of daily physical restraints; 
3. Improving pain management for longer term nursing home residents; 
4. Improving pain management for short stay, post-acute nursing home residents; 
5. Establishing individual targets for improving quality; 
6. Assessing resident and family satisfaction with the quality of care; 
7. Increasing staff retention; and 
8. Improving consistent assignment of nursing home staff, so that residents regularly  receive care from the same caregivers.

According to the Advancing Excellence Chair, Mary Jane Koren of the Commonwealth Fund, "The initial successes at measurably improving care for nursing home residents, combined with the positive feedback we've received from participants, including CMS, signaled the need to build on the solid foundation we've created and continue the campaign."  Nursing facilities that have already joined should continue to focus on the goals originally selected and post their results for Goals 6, 7 or 8. Nursing facilities that have not yet joined are encouraged to sign up.